Gathering in a cyber world: internet use of Chinese disabled people and the emergence of disability constituencies

Qu, Y. and Watson, N. (2019) Gathering in a cyber world: internet use of Chinese disabled people and the emergence of disability constituencies. Disability and Society, 34(7-8), pp. 1062-1081. (doi: 10.1080/09687599.2019.1602508)

Abstract

This article examines how Chinese disabled people use the Internet to create active constituencies and the potential for this to afford the opportunity for a new form of activism. Based on a content analysis of China’s two largest disability online forums, the article documents disabled people’s online activities. These include the description of everyday activities, the build-up of social relations, and organisation and mobilisation for changes. The analysis suggests the emergence of new disability constituencies. This, the article argues, is starting to reshape dis-ability politics and develop new disability activism.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This PhD research was supported by China Scholarship Council (201306770011).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Watson, Professor Nicholas
• Authors: Qu, Y., and Watson, N.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Disability and Society
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0968-7599
• ISSN (Online): 1360-0508
• Published Online: 10 May 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
• First Published: First published in Disability and Society 34(7-8): 1062-1081
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy